I have been viewing 2003-2006 LX470s and Land Cruisers to replace my ageing 80 series, and I find that mile for mile, the Land Cruiser leather is in much, much worse shape than the Lexus leather.
Is Lexus Leather Better?
- Thread starter MH_Stevens
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Could be different OR could be that all the cool kids were living it up in the LC's while all the LX's were at the mall getting their nails done.
I'd love to know if it's quality or care and use that causes this. Either could be true.
I'd love to know if it's quality or care and use that causes this. Either could be true.
More chinos popping in and out of the cruisers. More wool slacks in the Lexi. Less friction with the Italian wool slacks. IMO.
I've spent time in both LCs and LXs and I didn't see any difference in the leather. My guess is an original LC buyer is more likely to actually use the vehicle for what it's made for, which includes dragging lots of dirt, snow, mud, rain, sand, etc into the vehicles, including the seats. If they are like me, they don't take it to a dealer to get a detail either 
16 years and my LC seat leathers are still solid, however. The leather has a few cracks and dry spots but no cuts or separations. One key is to take all the sharp tools out of your back pocket before sitting down in the seat.
16 years and my LC seat leathers are still solid, however. The leather has a few cracks and dry spots but no cuts or separations. One key is to take all the sharp tools out of your back pocket before sitting down in the seat.
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- #5
The leather went way down in quality from the 80's. I saw a year 2001, 100 LC with 150,000 miles where the seats were lined with all the hide peeled off. My 1997 80 with 265,000 miles only has the stiching coming loose - the leather if polished is like new.
All has to do with care. I have original leather in my 1998, kids, dogs, and wet people pretty regular. I wipe it off when it's dirty, never "condition it". The only area that shows wear is the driver seat, rest looks 8-10.
Types of leather matter too. My king ranch looks like a disaster compared to my Lexus. I guess it requires more care than just wiping it off.
Types of leather matter too. My king ranch looks like a disaster compared to my Lexus. I guess it requires more care than just wiping it off.
Lexus does use different leather and actually used 2 different leathers during the 100 Series LX run. I believe they called the first one "Majestic" and then "Imperial" or something hokey like that. My almost 14 year old interior looks killer. Do not think it was due to wool slacks or the proletariat chinos.
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- #9
Leather, good leather that is, is a natural product that should need nothing more than a wet rag. Think about it - horse saddles, riding boots, stagecoach brakes, chaps. Do you think Jededia Smith carried an aerosol of Leatherique?.
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- #11
Take my comments with a pinch of salt. I was not trying to be a jerk, but leather and chemicals can be a dangerous combination. Saddle soap is OK
I think preventative maintenance is the key when it comes to leather maintenance. Once it's dried out and the oils are gone, it's usually too late. Most people don't maintain their leather... until it's too late. I believe Leatherique is one of the few products that uses natural oils to maintain and preserve leather. Damn I'm starting to sound like an infomercial. Haha!
Yes, there are distinct grades of leather. Though the grades are not measured necessarily by durability. I've had a 4Runner Limited, and many Lexi in the family. The Lexus leather is distinctly more supple by comparison. Also, not all surfaces are leather, even in the Lexus vehicles. Some of the less touched, lower wear surfaces are actually vinyl. The Lexus's typically get more swaths of leather overall. Both grades hold up very well over time.
Either is waaay better than the imitation pleather material that adorns the majority of BMW's and Merc's.
Either is waaay better than the imitation pleather material that adorns the majority of BMW's and Merc's.
I just wish they would have perforated and ventilated it. Solid more durable I guess.
When I bought my Mercedes 300TE new in 1988 the dealer was very impressed that I bought it with MB TEX, i.e. vinyl. He thought Americans were chumps to buy leather when Germans had perfected a substitute that lasted forever and couldn't be told from the natural stuff. He may have been right. My 300 had over 300k on it when I sold it in 2000. The seats still looked like brand new.
Not sure what they felt like back in '88, but the recent MB Tex I've experienced in E550s and M350, not low end Merc's by any means, were revolting IMO. Plasticky and very disappointing having been use to the fine leather used in Lexus's by comparison.
I picked up a 97 seat that has what most would say mint leather. It's smooth and tight yet very firm. On one corner it has a what looks to be a small puncture. Knowing these aged seats all to well I knew of I pushed my finger in the puncture it would split, sure enough.
I might shoot a video showing just how fragile aged leather is. With no natural oils from conditioners over the years the leather drys out and is dead.
I know as I've done this before, but you can tear these covers apart with my hands and maybe a sharp object like a key to start a hole. But it will indeed tear with no efforts.
Best thing you can do is to clean and introduce a quality conditioner with oils and let it soak in for hours and then buff to a luster.
To answer the question, I don't believe the leather quality to superior to the other.
I might shoot a video showing just how fragile aged leather is. With no natural oils from conditioners over the years the leather drys out and is dead.
I know as I've done this before, but you can tear these covers apart with my hands and maybe a sharp object like a key to start a hole. But it will indeed tear with no efforts.
Best thing you can do is to clean and introduce a quality conditioner with oils and let it soak in for hours and then buff to a luster.
To answer the question, I don't believe the leather quality to superior to the other.
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- #18
Try tearing the leather in an 80! The leather in my 80 is like a pair of leather shoes after 16 years in the desert and never a treatment save a wet cloth. 100 leather is more like a posh sofa covering than a utilitarian seat.
To each his own. I had an S500 for 8 years and had the same dislike of the rock hard leather in that vehicle. Especially when it stated to crack at what I considered an early age of 6 years old.
I personally would have been most happy if the LC would have been available when I bought it in 1998 with the same cloth interior as my 94 4Runner. Very comfortable, doesn't feel overly hot or cold, etc. and lasts forever.
